‘I Kissed a Boy’ star Adam shares he is living with HIV
In episode three of this season of I Kissed a Boy, Adam, a marketing manager from Reading, shared that he is living with HIV, which has helped spark an important conversation around what it’s like to live and date with HIV today. Adam – a fan favourite from the start – has impressed viewers with […]
In episode three of this season of I Kissed a Boy, Adam, a marketing manager from Reading, shared that he is living with HIV, which has helped spark an important conversation around what it’s like to live and date with HIV today.
Adam – a fan favourite from the start – has impressed viewers with his relatability. In episode one, he shared his fears of rejection and in episode two he acted confidently to go after the boy he wanted.
In the latest episode, Adam continues to grow in confidence. In an extremely moving moment, he chooses to share with the other boys that he’s been living with HIV for four years. The news is met by the other boys with incredible love and support.
In a moment that will help educate viewers across the country about HIV, Adam goes on to talk about how he only needs to take one pill a day, allowing him to live a healthy life and know he won’t pass HIV on to any sexual partners.
Adam talks about the stigma that people living with HIV still face, including on dating apps. He is clear that, despite obstacles in his way, he is living a fabulous life, triumphantly declaring, “Here I am. Here I bloody am.”
Terrence Higgins Trust said it is “proud to work with the BBC and production company TwoFour on the episode”.
The HIV charity’s Chief Executive Richard Angell OBE said: “Adam sharing his story as someone living with HIV is an incredibly special moment, from a very special man. It will have an impact far beyond the masseria.
“Adam talking about HIV in the first person is going to help people understand that people living with HIV can date and form relationships like anyone else. As Adam shared, people living with HIV taking their medication can’t pass it on when having sex, even without a condom.
“72% of adults in the UK are still unaware of that fact and it’s moments like this that help us change that.
“It is heartening to see that for the boys on the show, the fact that Adam is living with HIV is the least interesting thing about him. We’re so proud of him and can’t wait to see what happens next.”
